The story of Mataaho
Adapted by Max from the story told to us by Prince Davis.
Have you ever wondered why Tamaki Makaurau's landscape is filled with maunga mu. Well this Maori legend will explain it all. Read on.
Around about 150 thousand years ago lived Mataaho, the god of volcanoes. He lived on Maungawhau with his wife. Every night he went hunting for kai and every time he returned and was welcomed with warmth and bed.
But one night he did not return from his hunt and his wife was furious and so upset that she packed her bags and left.
The next day he returned and was devastated that his wife had left him. Later that night he was cold, starving and lonely.
The goddess of ahi, Mahuika heard about him and took pity on him and gave him food and created fires to keep him warm.
From that day forward, Ngati Whatua continued to care for Mataaho by leaving him the best of their offerings in the centre of the crater. They pass on his story so that future generations will continue to care for and protect this taonga. To this day people of Auckland continue to respect the wairua of Maungawhau. They view the crater as sacred and honour the wairua by refraining from entering the bowl of Mataaho.
Today if you are on top of Mount Eden and you look at the landscape, you can still see the evidence of the fires as volcanoes and if you look down into the crater you can remember that this is known as ‘Te ipu a Mataaho which is the bowl of Mataaho.
Adapted by Max from the story told to us by Prince Davis.
Around about 150 thousand years ago lived Mataaho, the god of volcanoes. He lived on Maungawhau with his wife. Every night he went hunting for kai and every time he returned and was welcomed with warmth and bed.
But one night he did not return from his hunt and his wife was furious and so upset that she packed her bags and left.
The next day he returned and was devastated that his wife had left him. Later that night he was cold, starving and lonely.
The goddess of ahi, Mahuika heard about him and took pity on him and gave him food and created fires to keep him warm.
From that day forward, Ngati Whatua continued to care for Mataaho by leaving him the best of their offerings in the centre of the crater. They pass on his story so that future generations will continue to care for and protect this taonga. To this day people of Auckland continue to respect the wairua of Maungawhau. They view the crater as sacred and honour the wairua by refraining from entering the bowl of Mataaho.
Today if you are on top of Mount Eden and you look at the landscape, you can still see the evidence of the fires as volcanoes and if you look down into the crater you can remember that this is known as ‘Te ipu a Mataaho which is the bowl of Mataaho.
Check out the children retelling using VOKI.